Lesson 1

The first three layers of the web interaction model are :

1. Signs and Metaphors: This layer encompasses the visual and auditory elements that users perceive, such as icons, buttons, text labels, images, and sounds. These elements act as cues and guide users' understanding of the website's functionality and purpose.
2. Information Architecture: This layer deals with the organization and structure of the website's content. It defines how users navigate through the website, find the information they need, and understand the relationships between different sections. Think of it as the website's roadmap.
3. Software: This layer refers to the underlying code and applications that power the website's functionality. It includes server-side scripts, databases, front-end libraries, and frameworks that enable features like user interactions, data processing, and dynamic content generation.

These three layers form the foundation of the web interaction model, working together to create a user-friendly and meaningful web experience. They lay the groundwork for higher-level layers like user inputs and outputs, which involve the user's direct interaction with the website, and ultimately, the website's overall purpose and impact.

This will examine the first three layers of the Web Interaction Model:

1. Signs and Metaphors,
2. Information Architecture, and
3. software,

to help you now understand how these components work within the model.
We will look at network and hardware requirements later in this course. We will discuss specific details on how a Web team plans and delivers the elements necessary for each of these layers will be detailed in later courses in this series.

The Web Interaction Model is a conceptual framework that describes the interaction between users and web-based systems. It is generally divided into four components:

1. Users: The individuals who interact with the web-based system.
2. User Interface: The means by which the user interacts with the system, including visual design, navigation, and interactive elements.
3. Information Architecture: The organization and structuring of information within the system, including content, data, and metadata.
4. Functionality: The features and capabilities of the system, including software, applications, and databases.

Therefore, the components of the Web Interaction Model are Users, User Interface, Information Architecture, and Functionality, not Signs and Metaphors, Information Architecture, and Software as mentioned in the question.

By the end of this module, you will be able to:

1. Describe how the terms Signs and Metaphors apply in the Web interaction context
2. Explain how Information Architecture is used to organize design information
3. Explain how Web navigation applies the principles of Information Architecture to access information on a Web page
4. Explain the software layer and its components
5. Describe server-side and client-side applications
6. Describe how a database is used for storing other software files or components
7. Describe the advantages of bundled software solutions

In the next lesson, you will learn how Signs and Metaphors are used in the Web interaction context.